Conveying system.



M. U. BERNHEIM.

CONVEYING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3,1909.

1,1 30,877, Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1 M. U. BERNHEIM.

CONVEYING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NUV. a, 1900.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. U. BERNHEIM. CONVEYING SYSTEM. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 9.

1,1 30,877. Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

26 v 3 EEEEEEEEEEEE 3.

L :3- [II I I Z a STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS U. BERNHEIM, 0F LOUISVTLLE, KENTUCKY, ASSI GNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO THE ALVEY-FERGUSON COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORA-TION OF OHIO.

CONVEYING SYSTEM.

Application filed November 3, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORRIS U. BERNHEIM, citizen of the United States,residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State ofKentucky, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in ConveyingSystems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to conveying systems of the kind whereinwhat may be arbitrarily termed a main line or run is tapped at intervalsby what may be termed branch lines leading off therefrom to variousplaces. Such a system is useful, for example, in a case wherein packagesare to be taken from a receiving station, which may be contiguous tocars or wagons to be unloaded and delivered thence to various placesinside of the warehouse, or taken from various places in such warehouseand delivered to a receiving place which may be adjacent to wagons orcars to be loaded.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a most effectivemeans for transferring the packages from the main to a selected branchrun, or from the latter to the main run, as the case may be, which meanswill be positive in its action and will accomplish its function with theutmost reliability and without danger of breakage of the packages, or ofthe contents thereof, even though the latter be of fragile nature, aslass.

other of the important objects of the present invention is to provide agravity conveyer, adapted to be arranged at a relatively slight grade ascompared with gravity chutes, and having sections disposed at an anglewith each other and with their ends connected together by a means whichwill obviate the necessit of providing a widely curved section at t ejunction of the two angularly arranged sections and will overcome alldanger of the packages stopping on the curve when moving slowly or ofstriking the guards customarily provided at said curves with sufficientforce to be liable to disarrange or injure the contents of the packageseven when said contents are of a fragile nature.

Another of the important objects ofthe invention is to provide a gravityconveyer of the kind referred to, having a main line tapped between itsends by one or more branch lines arranged approximately at Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

Serial No. 526,140.

right angles therewith, with a means con necting the main line and eachof the branch lines together, said means being capable of positively andsafely transferring the packages from the main line to the branch lineor from the branch line to the main line, and also adapted to permit thepackages to pass from one section of the main line to another sectionthereof, at will.

These objects of the invention are well accomplished by the constructionillustrated in the accompanying drawings, selected to exem lify What Iat present regard as the best orm of the invention, but in the detailsof which changes may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of part of a gravity conveyerembodying my present improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view of thetransferring section of the conveyer arranged at the junction of themain and branch lines or runs. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one endportion of said transferring section. Fig. 4 is a plan view of said endportion. Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 55 of, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 isa view on a smaller scale of the transferring section, showing also theend of a gravity conveyer inoperative relation therewith.

The same characters of reference designate the same parts in the severalviews.

The herein-exemplified system of conveyers embodying the presentimprovements has a plurality of conveyer-sections A whose confrontingends are separated from each other so as to form what may be arbitrarilydesignated a main line interrupted at one or more places in its length:one or more conveyers or sections B, which may be arbitrarily designatedbranch lines extending in appropriate directions with respect to themain line and having their ends which are adjacent to the latterrespectively so disposed as to be opposite-to the spaces interruptingthe continuity of the latter and in a spaced relation therewith: and oneor more transferring conveyors each composed of two elements C and D,the former of which occupies the space between two adjacent conveyors orsections A and the element D of which taps the side of the element C andoccupies the space between the latter and the adjacent conveyer B;together with a suitable switch E which is arranged contiguous to theelements C and D and acts to guide the package from one element to theother, when it is in place. In the exemplified arrangement this switchintersects the path of the packages delivered to the element C by thecontiguous section A of 'the main line and diverts the same from saidpath to that formed by the element D, which delivers the package to theadjacent section B of the branch line.

In respect of the transferring conveyer, the invention comprehends theuse of one having two separate series of power-driven rollers 1 and 2,which form the beds or ways of the elements C and D, respectively, therollers of one series having their axes arranged at right or othersuitable angles with those of the other series, and the said seriesbeing in such cooperative relation with each other and with the switchE, that the rollers of one will exert a force on the package sufiicientto cause it to turn, and continue its progress in its changed direction,when it reaches the switch, and will deliver its forward edge to therollers of the other element before releasing their action upon thepackage, the two series of rollers now, for a length of time dependentupon the length of the package, acting upon the latter, one to push andthe other to pull the same, until it has been fully withdrawn from oneelement, whereupon the rollers of the other ele ment propel the packageto the section or line of conveyer to which it leads. By thiscooperative action of the means set forth, packages such as beer-cases,for example, either filled or em ty, can be safely and positivelydelivered rom one conveyer or line of conveyers, to another arranged atright angles therewith, all tendency of stoppage of the progress of thepackages at the junction place being overcome.

The preferred embodiment of my invention will now be described indetail. The elements (3 and D comprise frames 0 and d which are arrangedat right angles to each other, the ends of one, as d, abutting the sideof the other at a place intermediate of the length of the latter. Eachside of the frame a is composed of connected and supported angle irons3, 4 and 5 (Fig. 5), arran ed at different vertical planes and exten inglongitudinally thereof. The angle irons 4 and 5 form tracks or ways forthe sprocket chains 6, or other endless traveling means, by which therollers 1 are caused to travel longitudinally of the element C, whilethe angle irons 3 form tracks for the rollers, causing the same torotate while they are being moved bodily, forward, in their. working.runs, whereby the paeka ge is propelled on theg rollerv beds-inadditionto being advanced-by the travelingmovement ofthe latter. Theendless traveling'means referred to, run over sprockets, or othersuitable driving and guiding elements 7 and 8 mounted on shafts at theends of said elements 0, the shafts of the driving sprockets 7 beingmarked 9. I

The connecting and supporting members for the angle irons 3, 4 and 5(see Fig. 5) comprise vertical members 11 at each side of the frame andtransverse members 12 connectin each with its companion at the otherside 0 the frame. These vertical members are preferably formed of angleirons and to each of the same the members 4 and 5 are secured, byrivets, or otherwise. The transverse members 12 are provided with platesor brackets 13 to which the angle irons 3 are secured. The verticalmembers extend to a plane above that of the rollers 1 and have inwardlybent ends, as shown at 14 and these ends of each series of members 11are connected with each other by a longitudinal member 15. The members15 form guide rails which prevent packages from moving laterally off theelement C. The guide rail at the side of the elements C remote from theelement D may be continuous throughout the length of its element, butthat at the other side of the element C is interrupted at the junctionwith the element D so as to permit the package to enter the latter. At

this junction, a plate 16 (Figs. 1 and 2) is arranged over the sprocketchain, said plate having its upper surface approximately in the plane ofthe upper surfaces of the rollers 1 and 2, so as to form a part of thebed or way, this plate serving to support the lower side of the packagein its movement from one series of rollers (1; to the other series ('2)and reventing its forward edge from falling be ow the longitudinal axesof the rollers, where it would not be properly engaged by the latter,and fromengaging with or being engaged by the traveling chain. A frameformed of the elements set forth, properly spaced apart and securedtogether, is light and strong and for these reasons is preferred. I

Inasmuch as it is not considered to be advisable to impart travelingmovement to the rollers 2, the frame of the element D may be of muchsimpler construction. The one employed by me is composed of longitudinalangle-irons 20, suitably supported and forming bearings for the shafts 2of the rollers 2. These shafts 2 are driven by the shaft 21 whichextends longitudinally of the element D at the side thereof, and isprovided with bevel gears which intermesh with similar gears on theshafts 2.

One of the features of my invention is that there shall'be a drivingconnection between the rollers 2zand'at rollers 1, whereby one series ofrollers receive motion from the other. Preferably, the rollers 2 derivemoof .the shaft 21 contiguous to the element C is provided with asprocket wheel 24 which engages the contiguous chain 6 and is driventhereby.

A suitable motor, not shown, has a driving connection with the shaft 9for driving the chains 6. This driving connection preferably includesreducing gears, and as here shown (see Fig. 4) comprises a pinion 25connected to the motor and meshing with a gear 26 mounted on one end ofa transverse shaft 27, the other end of which is provided with a pinion28 intermeshing with a gear 29 mounted on the shaft 9. At the other endof the element C there is a take-up mechanism of suitable character, fortaking up slack in the chains. This mechanism (see Fig. 6) may desirablyinclude boxes 30 which form bearings for the shaft 10 and are slidablymounted in the frame, with contiguous elements of which they have asuitable guiding connection, together with adjusting rods 31 engagingthe boxes and having threaded connection with the frame.

The conveyer sections A preferably employed in conjunction with thepresent transferring means, are of the gravity-roller type. that is tosay, of that type whereof the bed or way is arranged at a downwardinclination and is composed of freely rotatable rollers 32 which advancethe packages under the influence of gravity, and this is also true ofthe sections B; it being one of the important purposes of my presentinvention to provide a system of this character wherein crates, casesand other packages, of the kind usually handled by such systems can besuccessfully transferred from one line to another at right anglestherewith by two series of rollers, which in the junction ortransferring element range with their axes parallel with those of theirrespective lines and at right angles with each other thus avoiding thenecessity of wide turns on steep grades at the junction. The switch Ewhen in place to divert a package from the element C to the element Dextends from the junction 35 of one side of frame 0 and one side of anend of frame d, diagonally across the plane of the rollers 1, to theother side of the frame n,

joining the latter at a place approximately in line with the other sideof said end of the frame d, and at the junction of the latter side ofthe frame d and the first-mentioned side of frame 0, there is an arm orbar 36 which may be a continuation of the guiderail 15 and serves toprevent lateral displacement of the packages in their movement from oneelement to the other. Preferably, the switch is curved to present aconcave wall to the approaching package, and the arm or bar 36 ispreferably curved, but disposed to present a convex side to saidpackage, whereby angles in the path of movement of the package from oneelement be made in the details of the transferring means to the other,are eliminated. The switch also isadapted to be moved out of itsoperative position in order that packages which are not intended to beswitched from the section C may continue uninterruptedly on the latter.In the present embodiment this is accomplished by lifting it out ofplace manually.

From the foregoing construction, the operation and advantages of myinvention will be readily comprehended, and it will be apparent thatwhile I have provided a system of very advantageous detail construction,yet changes may be made in the illustrated details without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. Among changes which may mention may bemade of the use of concave rollers in the transferring element, likethose illustrated in the gravity elements, and the use, if desired, oftapered rollers, concaved or otherwise, in the traveling series. Anotherchange which may be mentioned is the driving of the sprocket chains fromthe shaft 21, instead of utilizing the chain as a driver for said shaft.

Having now described the invention what I believe to be new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is v 1. A transferring means forpackage-conveying systems, comprising two members arranged approximatelyat right angles with each other, each of said members having its bed orway provided with a series of powerdriven package-feeding rollers, therollers of one member having their axes disposed approximately at rightangles with the rollers of the other member, and the rollers of the twomembers being relatively so arranged that the end roller of one will beadjacent to the ends of rollers of the other, 4

whereby the rollers of the two members will act con ointly upon apackage, and a switch arranged as a bar to the path of travel of thepackage on one series of rollers for guiding said package from oneseries to- Ward the other series.

.2. Atransferring means for package-conveying systems, comprising twomembers arranged approximately at right angles with and adjacent to eachother, each of said members having its bed or way provided with a seriesof power-driven package-feeding rollers, the rollers of one memberhaving their axes disposed approximately at right angles with therollers of the other member, and drivin mechanism for said rollers,including en less travelin elements connected with one series thereo tocause the same to travel longitudinally of their members, apower-transmitting element connected with said traveling element, andconnections between said power-transmitting element and the rollers ofthe other series, the end roller of the latter series being adj acent tothe ends of the traveling series of rollers and a switch arranged as abar in the path of the packages so as to divert packages from one seriesof rollers to the other.

3. A transferring means for package-conveying systems, comprising twomembers arranged approximately at right angles with and adjacent to eachother, each of said members having its bed or way provided with a seriesof power-driven package-feeding rollers, the rollers of one memberhaving their axes disposed approximately at right angles with therollers of the other member, means whereby the rollers of one series aregiven traveling movement in a path adjacent to and longitudinal of theend roller of the other series and are caused to rotate, a switchdisposed over the traveling series of rollers, for guiding the packagetoward the other series of rollers, and driving elements for said otherseries of rollers.

4. A transferring means for package-conve ing systems, comprising aframe, one si e of which is interrupted intermediate of its length,means for propelling a package along said frame comprising a series ofrollers and endless traveling means for impartin movement thereto, asecond frame extending laterally with relation to the first frame andjoining the same at the interruption in the latter, a series ofpower-driven rollers carried by the second frame and having their axesapproximately at right angles with the axes of the rollers of the firstmentioned frame, a guard arranged between the two series of rollers overthe traveling means of the first frame at the interruption in thelatter, and disposed approximately in the horizontal plane of thesurfaces of the rollers, and a switch intersecting the path of movementof a package on the first series of rollers, for guiding the packagetoward the other series of rollers.

5. In a conveying mechanism,a plurality of members arrangedapproximately at right angles with each other, and respectivelycomprising a series of package-propelling rollers formin its bed or way,one of said members having endless-traveling chains which carry itsrollers longitudina ly thereof, and means whereby said rollers arecaused to rotate during said traveling movemerit, the other memberhaving a shaft,

rovided with driving connections between it and the rollers of saidmember and with by a chain of and a switch e on the package a sprocketwhich is engaged the first-mentioned member, intersecting the path of apacka traveling rollers, for guiding sai therefrom to the other rollers.

6. In a conveying mechanism, a lurality of frames, one of which ta s thesi e of the other intermediate of the ength of the latter and isarranged approximately at right angles therewith, a series of rollersextending transversely of each frame, means for imparting travelingmovement to one series of rollers, including a pair of endless travelingsprocket chains connected thereto, a track for the latter series ofrollers, a switch intersecting the path of movement of a package on saidrollers for guiding the same to the other series of rollers, and drivingelements for said other series of rollers, including a sprocket wheelengaged by one of said chains.

7. A conveying mechanism comprising a plurality of main line sectionshaving separated confronting ends, a branch line having an end arrangedopposite the space between the main line sections, and a transferringmeans which comprises two members disposed approximately at ri ht angleswith each other, one of said mem ers occupying the space between thesections of the main line and the other occupying the space between thefirst mentioned member and the branch line, each of said members havingits bed or way provided with a series of power-driven package-feedingrollers, the rollers of one member having their axes disposedapproximately at right an les with the rollers of the other member, an aswitch arranged in the path of travel of the package on one series ofrollers for guiding said package from one series toward the other.

8. A conveying mechanism comprising a plurality of main line sectionshaving separated confronting ends, a branch line having an end arrangedopposite the space between the main line sections, and a transferringmeans which com rises two members disposed approximate y at ri ht angleswith each other, one of said mem ers occupying the space between thesections of the main line and the other occupying the's ace between thefirst mentioned member an the branch line, each of said members havingits bed or way provided with a series 0 power-driven package-feedingrollers, the rollers of one member havin their axes disposedapproximately at rig t angles with the rollers of the other member, anda switch arranged in the path of travel of the package on one series ofrollers for iding said package from one series towar the other, saidswitch and the two series of rollers being so correlated that the end ofthe package presented to the switch Wlll be turned from the line of oneseriesof rollers to the line of the char series and both series ofrollers will act simultaneously thereon, one exercising a pulling andthe other a pushin force, for a time in the transfer of the pac age.

9. A conveying mechamsm compnsn? a plurality of lines of conveyersarranfge at an angle with each other, and a trans errin conveyerarranged in the unction of $0.1 lines and comprising two mem tivelyforming elements of said lines, each of said members having a series ofpackagepropelling rollers forming its bed or way, one of said series ofrollers having nontraveling movement and the other havingtraveling-movement, a switch for guiding the package from one series ofrollers to the other, and driving connections between the two series ofrollers, said driving con- 10 nections including an endless travelingchain connected to one series of rollers, a sprocket wheel engaged bysaid chain, and connections between said wheel and the other series ofrollers.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 15

